Doing God’s Work in God’s Way

 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder.”  The Church is God’s true temple.  The temple of Solomon was built using gold, silver and costly stones.  Wisdom will build her house with divine substance (gold), redemption’s fruit (silver), and transformed lives (costly stones).  Wood, hay and straw are emblems of the work of the flesh, the building materials of men, not of God.  They grow up from the ground, which God cursed.  It is both quality and durability that God commends.  Fire will cause the better material to glow brighter, but the inferior material will be consumed.  How we build and what we build matters to God.  It is possible to build on the true foundation of Christ but with wrong materials.  We need God’s work done in God’s way.  So whether we live or die we make it our life’s passion to live our lives pleasing to Him.  For one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on His  throne so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, whether good or worthless.  Let’s seek to do God’s will every moment so that we bring heaven down to earth while we live here.  Amen!

God Delivers & Rescues Believers

 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “See, I have purified you in the furnace of adversity, but not like silver—I have refined you in the fire. For My Own sake alone I will do it, so My Name will not be dishonored. I will not yield My glory to another.”  If God had left them in the fire to melt down all their dross, they would still be there in the fire with nothing left of them.  God limits the intensity and the timing of our every trial and uses the furnace of adversity to make us more like Christ. We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.  Because of Christ’s sufferings on the Cross for all mankind, God promises to deliver, refine and rescue His people who have believed Him, so that His Own Name and Identity as God Most High is not defamed.  Rescue is as sure as God’s identity for believers in Christ.  Amen!

Possessing Christ’s Mind by the Holy Spirit

 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The revelation to Paul, “For Who has ever intimately known the mind of the Lord YAHWEH well enough to become His counselor? Christ has, and we possess Christ’s perceptions.”  We believers who possess the Holy Spirit, are revealed the thoughts and purposes of Christ.  The revelation of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached, was not understood by the intellect of men but by those who welcomed His truth.  Humanly speaking, no one can understand the mysteries of God without the Holy Spirit.  As Isaiah prophesied, “Who fully understands the Spirit of YAHWEH or is wise enough to counsel Him?  Whom does He consult to be enlightened? Who teaches Him the ways of justice? Who imparts knowledge to Him or shows Him the true path of wisdom? Even the nations are to Him like a drop in a bucket, regarded as nothing more than dust on a scale.”  These mysteries are revealed to those who have the Holy Spirit and now possess the perceptions of Christ’s mind and can implement His purposes on the earth.  The quickening of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit reveals to us the mind of Christ.  Amen!

Demolish Deceptions with God’s Truth

 “Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭47‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Take off your pretty veil; take two millstones and grind grain. Lift your skirt, bare your legs, and wade through the rivers. Your humiliating nakedness will be uncovered, your shame exposed and seen by all. I will take vengeance and let no one intercede for you.”  This was a prophecy of the fall of Babylon as seen by the prophet that this pampered and spoiled Babylon with flowing tresses is now considered to do the lowest of menial work of grinding the millstones which was done by slaves.  It is true that Babylon fell but we can understand that the “Babylonian system” in the Church is also falling.  Old concepts are crumbling and being swept away as God exposes the impurity that has crept into the Church.  Yet the Redeemer stands ready to restore and revive those with hungry, passionate hearts for God.  For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.  Amen!

Christ is God’s True Power & Wisdom to Us

 “but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “But for those who have been chosen to follow Him, both Jews and Greeks, He is God’s mighty power, God’s true wisdom, and our Messiah. For the “foolish” things of God have proven to be wiser than human wisdom. And the “feeble” things of God have proven to be far more powerful than any human ability.”  Christ is the supreme manifestation of God’s power to save us from sin, to work miracles and to defeat evil.  Christ is the supreme manifestation of wisdom, for He carries out the eternal plan of God and brings it to completion.  Although the Cross seems to be the foolish of God, it reveals His transcendent wisdom.  Though God the Son was crucified in weakness, He has risen through the divine power that transforms lives today.  God has no weakness or foolishness whatsoever.  Yet what looks like weakness is actually His strength, and what looks like foolishness is actually His wisdom.  If we have received this, we are the most blessed of the Lord.  Praise be to God Most High!  Amen!

God Our Maker, Saviour, Deliverer, Caregiver

 “They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: and even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “They both stoop and bow down, and they are powerless to rescue their own images. There they go—carried off into captivity! “Listen to Me, O Jacob’s tribes, all the remnant of Israel. You never had to carry Me, but I have carried you from birth. I supported you from the moment you left the womb. Even as you grow old and your hair turns gray, I’ll keep carrying you! I Am your Maker and your Caregiver. I will carry you and be your Savior.”  These false gods and their idols are like captives carried off by their conquerors.  That is what God told them through Moses, “As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, So the LORD alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him.”  God covers us with His feathers, and under His wings we hide. His truth is our shield and protection.  These promises are “Yes” and “Amen” to all those who choose to put our trust in Christ and the finished work of the Cross. God promises, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Amen!

The Mighty Victory of Christ’s Power and Holiness

 “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Paul was revealed, “I’m so happy when I think of you, because everyone knows the testimony of your deep commitment of faith. So I want you to become scholars of all that is good and beautiful, and stay pure and innocent when it comes to evil. And the God of peace will swiftly pound satan to a pulp under your feet! And the wonderful favor of our Lord Jesus will surround you.”  God’s holiness is powerful as the psalmist says, “Sing a new song to the Lord telling about His mighty deeds! For He has won a mighty victory by His power and holiness.” This victory came to us when God declared His Son our Lord Jesus Christ with power according to His Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.  For all those who believe in the finished sacrifice of Christ, through our God we will do valiantly, for it is He who treads down our enemies.  Let’s lead a life of the obedience of Christ that produces holiness in us that bruises satan under our feet.  May the grace of God bring us to that overcoming faith that brings us victory always.  Amen!

Jesus is Salvation Whose Fruit is Righteousness

 “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “I create light, and I make it dark. I make bliss, and I create adversity. I Am YAHWEH Who does all these things.’ “Shower down righteousness, O heavens above. Let the clouds drip with deliverance! Let earth’s womb open and bear salvation’s fruit, with righteousness rising up beside it! I, YAHWEH, have created all of them!”  God is light and God is peace or ‘shalom’ which means so much more than calm and order - it is translated prosperity, bliss, wholeness, completeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.  Shalom comes from a root verb which means to be complete, perfect and paid in full.  Salvation is the same word as Yeshua or Jesus and its fruit is righteousness blossoming with mercy.  Let’s know the magnitude of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.  “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross.”  Amen!

Let’s Glorify God Always

 “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul said, “And I will not be presumptuous to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me. For many non-Jewish people are coming into faith’s obedience by the power of the Spirit of God, which is displayed through mighty signs and amazing wonders, both in word and deed. Starting from Jerusalem I went from place to place as far as the distant Roman province of Illyricum, fully preaching the wonderful message of Christ.”  The apostle Paul thoroughly preached the good news with much evidence that God was working through him.  This resulted in many non-Jewish people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.  The signs and wonders were a part of the message, validating Paul’s apostolic mandate to evangelise and plant churches.  Paul zealously preached the Gospel all the way to Illyricum, the Roman province in part of the western Balkan Peninsula, now known as Croatia.  Paul knew that all glory belonged to God for the signs, wonders and miracles, and was not due to anything in him, in fact he asked for prayers for himself from the churches he had planted and the believers who had come to Christ through him.  He refused to be exalted in the eyes of others, that’s the nature of a true apostle.  Let’s not take the credit for what God is doing and how He is working but know to always give glory to God.  Amen!

Our Everlasting God

 “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “The words of YAHWEH, Israel’s true King and Kinsman-Redeemer, YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, says: “I Am the Beginning and I Am the Ending, and I Am the only God there is. Who is like Me?  Go ahead, stand and speak up. I’ll wait for him to announce it and explain it all to Me!  Who else has announced from everlasting what is to come? Let him prophesy what is yet to be.”  God says that He is the First and He is the Last - the Everlasting.  This is the revelation that Isaiah got that this Everlasting God has made an Everlasting Covenant through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who through His Everlasting Kindness has given us Everlasting Salvation through the Cross, in His death, burial and resurrection.  Now He is seated in Everlasting Majesty having given Everlasting Joy to all who believe in Him.  His Everlasting Name is the Everlasting Sign of His Everlasting Light.  Let us rejoice in our God Who is forever and ever, and we His people will reign with Him forever.  Amen!